Newsletter

Jaguars’ future will depend on the draft

While a disgruntled Jaguars fan base tries to move toward accepting the notion that Jack Del Rio will remain the coach in 2010, it’s time to shine the spotlight on how the team intends to upgrade itself without changing the head coach.

Unless he pulls an Urban Meyer, owner Wayne Weaver isn’t kicking Del Rio to the curb right now. In the event of a playoff-less 2010, then Del Rio can fear the unemployment line.

At this moment, the Jaguars are more consumed with finishing the rebuilding job general manager Gene Smith began last February by releasing Jerry Porter and Drayton Florence. They’ve decided the way to do that is by acquiring better players, not handing Del Rio a pink slip and $15-plus million as a parting gift.

So if you’re one of those pessimistic Jaguars supporters who’s wondering where hope lies, mark April 22-24 on your calendar. The NFL Draft will be the Super Bowl for Smith and his small army of scouts.

Go ahead, be livid over the 0-4 finish to the Jaguars’ season. Be frustrated, like Weaver and Smith surely were, on how an AFC wild-card berth essentially slipped away by letting the Miami Dolphins escape with that 14-10 victory at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium last month.

But there comes a point where the blame game becomes wasted energy. The Jaguars need improvement at so many positions. With a weak free agent crop out there, the best shot Jacksonville has at a better tomorrow is to repeat the success of the 2009 draft.

Think of what Smith did in piloting his first draft last April in terms of a baseball scorecard. The best draft in team history delivered full-time starters with the opening four picks (Eugene Monroe, Eben Britton, Terrance Knighton and Derek Cox), plus slot receiver Mike Thomas, backup tight end Zach Miller and improved running back Rashad Jennings.

In one spectacular weekend, Smith did the equivalent of hitting what now looks like a couple of home runs, a triple, a double and, more importantly, not one wasted at-bat yet among nine draft picks.

Can he do that again? Realistically, that kind of hitting display will be tough to duplicate, especially without a second-round draft pick (it was traded to New England for the draft rights to Cox) this year.

“You have to be encouraged by Gene’s first draft because we brought in players that ended up being exactly what we were thinking we’d get,” Del Rio said. “What we have to do is be sound, acquire information [on draft prospects], sort through it, and make good decisions. That’s what Gene did last year, and what we need to do again.”

Smith fosters hope because he doesn’t get caught up in big names or the glamor positions. While Jacksonville is obsessed about the Jaguars landing Tim Tebow or whoever becomes the flavor of the month leading up to draft day, Smith is about getting the most value for the pick.

The Jaguars’ season is done. Nothing can change that annoying finish, but they have some promising young players that will be valuable building blocks. A proven talent evaluator like Smith figures to add to that collection in the next draft.

Not happy with Del Rio? Cheer up, a few more good draft decisions by Smith will make him a better coach.